In business, perception often begins working long before capability is ever discovered. Before a founder speaks, presents an idea, or demonstrates expertise, the market has already started forming assumptions based on background, surname, visibility, influence, and familiarity. While few openly acknowledge it, this silent bias shapes far more business opportunities than most entrepreneurs realise. Recently, while interacting with a group of entrepreneurs, this reality became

The same market correction may create caution for resident buyers and opportunity for NRIs with a stronger currency advantage. Imagine Bharath, an Indian salaried employee, planning to buy a plot of land worth Rs 50 lakh as a long-term investment. He has been saving money for several years and intends to take a loan for the remaining amount. At the same time, Sandeep, an NRI working in the United States and earning in dollars, is also considering investing in Indian real esta

Mumbai: As fuel prices shot up by nearly Rs 5/litre in barely 10 days, the common citizens are feeling the pinch of a fresh wave of inflation and rates of all essentials gradually rising. From the humble favourite street corner vada-pav and pav-bhaji to milk, vegetables, fruits, groceries and ice-creams, besides online food deliveries, malls, showrooms and other retailers, the impact is starkly visible all around. Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA)

In mutual funds, investors often hear three important terms - SIP, STP and SWP. These may sound technical, but they are actually simple and powerful facilities provided by mutual funds. They help investors invest, transfer and withdraw money in a disciplined and automated manner. Systematic Investment Plan This is the most commonly known concept. In an SIP, a fixed amount is automatically debited from your bank account on a fixed date and invested into selected mutual fund sc

Mumbai: India’s commercial real estate market is undergoing a structural shift as businesses increasingly gravitate towards future-ready office hubs that combine sustainability, technology, wellness and operational efficiency. Industry experts say the transformation is being driven by changing workplace expectations, rapid infrastructure expansion, ESG-led corporate strategies and the growing need for healthier and more flexible work environments. The demand for integrated of

In business, founders spend years building products, strengthening teams, increasing revenue, and expanding visibility in the market. Entire strategies are designed around making the company trusted, recognised, and competitive. Yet somewhere in this pursuit, one critical element is often ignored — the human being behind the business itself. Recently, during a podcast conversation on personal branding, I was asked a question that immediately stood out. “Why should a founder b

Mumbai: India has emerged as the most attractive real estate yield market across the Asia Pacific region, driven by strong economic fundamentals, rising institutional participation and sustained occupier demand, according to a latest survey by CBRE. The consultancy’s Q1 2026 Asia Pacific Cap Rate Survey shows that India offers the highest yields across every major asset class, including office, retail, logistics, hotels and student housing, significantly outperforming mature

While GST relief for individual insurance is welcome, but taxing group insurance at 18 percent weakens India’s largest vehicle for mass social protection. In a landmark reform, the Indian government abolished the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on individual life and health insurance, advancing its ambition of “Insurance for All by 2047.” By removing the 18 percent tax burden on retail policies, the state lowered the cost of financial protection for millions of households confro

The real question is whether income builds assets or merely funds appearances. Bharath was 29 years old, working at a reputed multinational company in Pune with an annual package of Rs 24 lakh. Among friends and relatives, he was considered highly successful. He drove a luxury car purchased on EMI, upgraded his phone every year, travelled frequently, and regularly posted pictures of expensive cafés and vacations on social media. From the outside, Bharath looked rich. During a

The state’s electric vehicle boom promises cleaner cities and industrial renewal, but the transition is exposing the deep social and energy vulnerabilities of India’s urban future. India’s electric vehicle revolution is picking up pace, and Maharashtra is one of the most ambitious drivers. The state is emerging as a leader in clean mobility with Mumbai’s growing fleet of electric buses and Pune’s booming EV startup ecosystem. Government incentives, rising petrol prices, envir

By now, if you’ve followed this series, you’ve done something rare. You didn’t walk in and start “fixing” blindly. You understood the equilibrium. You reduced the fear of loss. You made the new way easier than the old way. You created rhythm. You built reputation and credibility. You learned to negotiate, build coalitions, digitize in small steps. And the previous article, Rahul spoke about the hidden requirement: psychological safety because without truth, every dashboard be

The forthcoming GDP revision highlights the uneasy relationship between statistical methodology, political legitimacy and lived economic reality. Over the past few weeks, the revision of the base year of GDP has ceased to be an issue confined to statistical conferences and has begun making headlines. This statistical re-set can redefine the perceptions of the country about its own economic achievement, the priorities of policymakers, and the world interpretations of the growt

Mumbai: The Central Railway Mumbai Division’s monthly revenue collection increased from Rs. 570.42 crore in the month of April 2026 as compared to April 2025 which was Rs. 528.17 crore. The amount increased by 8%. The growth was boosted due to several reasons, such as coaching, sundry, and ticket checking segments, reflecting sustained passenger demand and enhanced revenue realization efforts. Last year, in April 2025, the coaching revenue was Rs. 320.60 crore. However, in Ap

As the new academic year starts, many parents once again experience how quickly education costs are rising. School fees, tuition classes, books, uniforms, transport, extracurricular activities and other expenses keep increasing every year. As your child grows older, these costs only become bigger, especially when it comes to graduation, post-graduation, professional courses and foreign education. A child’s education is not only an emotional priority for parents but also one o

In business, growth is often associated with expansion. As companies evolve, founders naturally begin exploring additional services, new verticals, and complementary offerings that can strengthen revenue and create larger opportunities. From a business standpoint, this progression appears logical. The entrepreneur sees the connection clearly because the new service often emerges directly from existing expertise. However, markets do not always interpret expansion the way found

Will investors one day entrust their life savings to a machine? Will portfolio decisions quietly migrate from seasoned minds to silent computation? These questions, once relegated to speculative discourse, now demand serious consideration. Artificial intelligence has embedded itself into the architecture of financial markets, reading balance sheets in seconds, analyse earnings calls, tracking global liquidity, and executing trades with extraordinary speed. What appeared futur

Mumbai: As India’s investment landscape evolves, a growing debate is emerging among investors over which asset class truly delivers superior long-term wealth creation — gold, stocks or land. While gold has historically served as a trusted safe-haven asset and equities have generated substantial wealth during economic booms, real estate-backed land investments are increasingly gaining prominence due to infrastructure expansion, urbanisation and long-term appreciation potential

The appeal reflects an exercise in ‘nudge theory’ — using behavioural change to support macroeconomic stability. The recent economic appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes at a critical juncture for the Indian economy. Amidst global uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions in West Asia and volatile crude oil prices, the government has proposed a 7-point behavioural shift to safeguard our national interests. From a chartered accountant’s perspective, these suggestions

Mumbai: The undeniable reality of climate change is rapidly transitioning from an ecological warning to a severe economic crisis in India. Global warming is no longer just altering natural ecosystems; it is fundamentally rewriting the rules of the nation's macroeconomic stability. A stark illustration of this shift comes from the HSBC report published on Monday, which highlights how rising surface temperatures and the looming threat of El Niño are directly forcing the Reserve

Most people work hard to create wealth. They invest in bank deposits, mutual funds, stocks, insurance policies, real estate, gold, bonds and other assets. But one important question is often ignored: does your family know about all this? This question has become even more important today. Recently, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that Indian banks are holding around Rs. 78,000 crore of unclaimed deposits, insurance companies have nearly Rs. 14,000 crore lying unc